Americans say 46 percent to 34 percent that Barack Obama was the winner of the first presidential debate in a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Sept. 27, the day after the debate. Sixty-three percent of those polled said they had watched the debate, 12 percent said they had seen or heard news coverage of it and 25 percent said they had neither seen the debate or news coverage of it. (So, what are we supposed to make of that as far as the poll results?)
A Rasmussen Reports survey conducted Sept. 27 gave Obama a much narrow 36 percent to 33 percent edge with 31 percent undecided. That lead is equal to the 3 point margin of error. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they watched some, most or all of it.
Asked in the Gallup survey, which candidate offered the best proposals for change to solve the country's problems as evidenced in the debate, Obama bested McCain 52 percent to 35 percent.
Obama also benefited in this poll because more people came away with an improved view of him than was the case with McCain.
On the economy and the economic crisis, the Washington Post has a story today saying "McCain Ready for a Change of Subject," and this poll gives some credence to that. While a plurality of respondents said of both candidates that the debate had not changed their views of which candidate could better handle the economic problems faced by the country, 34 percent said they came away from the debate with more confidence in Obama compared to 23 percent for McCain. Twenty-six percent said they now had less confidence in Obama, and 37 percent said that of McCain.
Thirty-five percent said they were more confident about Obama's ability to deal with matters of national defense and foreign policy compared to 34 percent for McCain. Twenty-nine percent came away with less confidence in Obama compared to 27 percent for McCain. About numbers said their opinions remained the same for both candidates.
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